Nondiscrimination protections – and the lack thereof –
have played a growing role in Georgia’s political discourse over the last four years. This long-running debate seemingly culminated in March 2016 with the passage – and ultimate veto – of HB 757, a so-called “First Amendment Defense Act” that would have allowed businesses and some taxpayer-funded organizations to deny services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, if serving them conflicted with a deeply held religious belief.
The economic uproar that followed the passage of HB 757 is well-known – voices ranging from the NFL, to the titans of the entertainment industry, to corporate giants all weighed in heavily against a bill that allowed for the legalization of discrimination against LGBT people. What’s less known is that, even absent troubling bills such as HB 757, Georgia residents are arguably some of the most vulnerable in the nation – lacking explicit protections from discrimination that are commonplace in many other states in the nation. For Georgia’s LGBT residents, these vulnerabilities are even more pronounced because Georgia lacks basic civil rights protections.
Georgia is an unenviable outlier among states in that we have some of the weakest civil rights protections for our citizens in the nation. Georgia has no law that prevents private employers from discriminating on the basis of an employee’s race; no law that prevents local businesses from refusing service to patrons because of their religion; and no law preventing landowners from refusing to rent or sell to our citizens based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Implications of Broad Religious Exemption Laws:
The freedom of religion is one of our most fundamental rights. It’s enshrined in our Constitution and reflected in laws across the land – and it’s not up for debate. In fact, it’s one of the many freedoms that allow each and every American to live their lives to the fullest and advance the common good.
But a new type of bill appearing in state legislatures across the country, often called a “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” (RFRA), essentially allows individuals to use their religious beliefs to harm others, paving the way for challenges to virtually any law designed to protect all of us from various forms of discrimination. These RFRA bills ultimately create unforeseen consequences and cause real problems for people, governments and businesses.
Georgia Equality is committed to stopping RFRA in Georgia and to advancing polices and laws that advance fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBT Georgians.In January 2015, Georgia Equality launched a historic grassroots campaign with Georgia Unites Against Discrimination to oppose legislation in the Georgia General Assembly that essentially allows individuals to use their religious beliefs to discriminate the LGBT community and others.
Tell Your Lawmakers: No Discrimination in Georgia!
For more info – newreport :LGBT Policy Spotlight: State and Federal Religious Exemptions and the LGBT Community
Have you been discriminated against because of your real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have your own story you would like to share? Click here.
Georgia Equality has launched a new video series that features the real stories of Georgians whose lives have been turned upside down because of discrimination they faced in the workplace, simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The series of videos, All Things Being Equal, features emotional stories from hardworking Georgians who experienced discrimination in housing, employment, or public accommodation simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Connie Galloway, Blue Ridge, GA
Have you been discriminated against because of your real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have your own story you would like to share? Click here.
Georgia is one of 28 states that have no laws protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Workplace Discrimination:
Many people across our country and across our state assume that it’s already illegal to fire someone or deny them housing or other services simply because they’re LGBT, but that’s not true. There’s no federal law protecting LGBT people from discrimination, and there are no state laws in Georgia that have explicit LGBT non-discrimination protection.
BUT didn’t the EEOC ruling fix some of that?
In July 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that Title VII of the 1967 Civil Rights Act includes protection from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Previously, the EEOC found that gender identity-based discrimination is also prohibited by Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The ruling applies to federal claims and will also be used by the EEOC’s offices in Georgia when investigating discrimination claims in the private sector.Georgia Equality encourages individuals who experience discrimination based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity to file a complaint with the EEOC.
Sort of…… Though there is a path forward for those with economic resources to advance legal cases of workplace discrimination – there haven’t been many rulings to set precedent, some cases are left up to the judge discretion, and would most likely end up in a time-consuming battle; also the EEOC ruling sets no protections for housing or public accommodations.
Georgia Equality believes that only the passage of state-level comprehensive LGBT nondiscrimination policies and legislation will prevent discrimination in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations.
Have you been discriminated against because of your real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have your own story you would like to share? Click here.
Housing Discrimination:
Georgians can be refused rental or removed from their homes because of their perceived or real gender identity or sexual orientation.
If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, you should contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. You may also file a housing complaint online. Contact your local HUD office for assistance with filing a complaint.
Additionally, check your local non-discrimination ordinance to see if it prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Have you been discriminated against because of your real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have your own story you would like to share? Click here.
Public Accommodations Discrimination:
Be refused service, entry, etc. into a place of public accommodation based on your perceived or real gender identity. Public accommodations are generally defined as entities, both public and private. Examples include retail stores, restaurants, hotels, parks, entertainment venues, as well as educational institutions, recreation facilities and service centers.
Additionally, check your local non-discrimination ordinance to see if it prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Have you been discriminated against because of your real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity? Do you have your own story you would like to share? Click here.
Discrimination in Prison, Jails, and Detention Centers:
Georgia Equality is dedicated to putting an end to discrimination against LGBT people in Georgia prisons, jails, and detention centers.
If you have experienced discrimination while incarcerated in Georgia, please contact Sarah Geraghty, Managing Attorney of the Impact Litigation Unit at email hidden; JavaScript is required or 404-688-1202.